Hot flashes, stopping of periods, insomnia, dry skin… The list of possible side effects that accompany menopause is long and, it must be admitted, not very encouraging. Added to this is also a sometimes quite visible phenomenon: hair loss.
We asked dermatologist Dr Dima Haidar to explain to us why menopause is a time conducive to hair loss and the aggravating factors that we don’t always think about.
Hair loss during menopause: why do we lose hair during menopause?
As always with menopause, the main cause of the hair loss that a large number of women notice is hormones. “At menopause, there is a decrease in the secretion of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.“explains Dr. Haidar. “Progesterone has in particular an anti-androgenic effect, that is to say it limits the activity of male androgenic hormones. When its secretion decreases, this leads to a hormonal imbalance which is in favor of these male hormones, notably testosterone which transforms into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for hair loss in men. She also specifies that, as for men, the back part of the head is generally less affected by a fall than the front part.
At the same time, the dermatologist indicates that we observe a reduction in the quality of the scalp (which dries out, like the skin on the face and body), which results in poorer quality hair follicles, therefore hair that grows less strong and less thick.
What causes hair loss at menopause? Other factors
Hormones are not the only cause of hair loss during menopause. Among the aggravating factors, Dr. Haidar cites “the way of life, and more precisely a sleep that is not of good qualitya poor diet – not rich enough in fruits and vegetables, therefore in vitamins and fibers but also in good fats – which means that the scalp is not nourished so the hair grows of poorer quality, stress and seasonal phenomena such astelogen effluvium in autumn”.
“What we put our hair through also has an impact on hair loss.“warns the dermatologist who points the finger at repeated coloring, chemical treatments and the use of heated styling appliances.
Finally, she also cites deficiencies, particularly iron deficiencies, which impact the hair but can quite easily be resolved provided you know how to supplement (a blood test can allow us to detect them).
Does hair loss during menopause affect all women?
Let it be said: the phenomenon of hormonal drop affects all women at menopause. However, it does not translate in the same way for everyone, and We are not all equal when it comes to hair loss : “Even before menopause, some women are affected by what is called androgenetic alopecia, i.e. significant hair loss which often results in a very marked parting and thinning areas in the hair. This alopecia being hormonal origin, it is not uncommon for the phenomenon to become more pronounced at menopause.” Conversely, other women will simply notice that their hair is a little less dense, without this being a problem…
Menopause: what to do when you notice hair loss?
For the dermatologist, The first thing to do when you notice hair loss that seems more severe than usual is to pay attention to your lifestyle. : are we particularly stressed at the moment? Do we have a balanced diet? Are we getting enough sleep? etc. Simple adjustments like eating better can often lead to an improvement in hair quality.
Dr. Haidar also recommends take special care of your hair by using suitable hair products, but also by limiting aggravating factors such as the use of a hair dryer, straighteners or even by spacing out coloring as much as possible (root touch-up treatments are perfect for easily saving us one or two weeks) . “The idea is not to prevent ourselves from living, but to put the chances on our side”summarizes the expert.
Of course, it is also advisable to make an appointment with a dermatologist to take stock of the loss, its origin and the solutions available to us.